THE post Coun Simpson-Laing refers to was only filled for five months in 2004 ('Poor designs on York', Letters, March 14).

It may have been created by Labour but they made very little effort to actually fill it.

The deletion of this post will not affect the high quality of the work undertaken by the existing team of experienced officers in the environment and conservation section of the planning department where there are plenty of "experts" ready and willing to challenge developers on a whole range of issues pertinent to development in the city.

I am sure your readers will be pleased to know we have also been exploring alternative ways to take forward the development of urban design work in the city.

The first initiative is partnership working with English Heritage to undertake an appraisal of the historic core conservation area.

Coun Ann Reid,

Executive member for

planning and transport,

Grassholme, York.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, March 17, 2005